Monrovia Prepares To Welcome Queen

Press, Volume C, Issue 29679, 24 November 1961, Page 13

Monrovia Prepares To Welcome Queen

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MONROVIA (Liberia),

Nov. 23. Monrovia is gay with British flags to3ay to greet the Queen, the first reigning British sovereign to visit Liberia, the oldest of the independent African states.

It will be Liberia’s second State visit in a week—two days ago President Felix Houphouet-Boigny of the Ivory Coast left Monrovia after a four-day stay.

As soon as he left, workmen began taking down Ivory

Coast flags and the President’s portraits and replacing them with British flags and life-sized photographs of the Queen. The British Royal visitors come on a one-day visit as representatives of the first country to recognise Liberia after it declared itself an independent State in July, 1847. The last time that Liberian and British heads of States met was in 1847—Queen Victoria and President J. J. Roberts.

Monrovia’s biggest dance hall is advertising a special rock ’n’roll evening “to welcome Queen Elizabeth II of England and party. A wonderful treat you cannot afford to miss.” It adds: “Come and dance by some of the latest hits just arrived with Her Majesty. . . Flat Refurnished

President Tubman’s private town residence—a top-floor flat in the executive mansion —had been refurnished by a Paris decorator to receive the Royal couple, and several hundred feet of red carpet has been laid on the stairs and on the pavement outside toe mansion. In their brief visit the Queen and Duke will see very little of Liberia outside toe capital, its airfield and rubber plantations. They will attend a civic reception at Monrovia City Hall, where they will be

presented with the key to the city, lunch with President and Mrs Tubman, and attend receptions at the British Embassy and the executive pavilion. In the evening, the Queen will give a dinner and reception in honour of President and Mrs Tubman aboard the Royal yacht Britannia.